The Blind Buzz on Cycling

Some recent news stories – plenty more to come soon.

---

Around the Bay in a Day® 2011 – Andrew Devenish-Meares – support Andrew, who I believe is a visually impaired tandemist, in his bid to raise funds for educationally disadvantaged Australian kids on Sunday, October 16th, 2011.
Bupa Around the Bay Event Details

Austin Bike Culture Calendar Events: 9/8- 9/14/11 | Austin On Two Wheels – among the events is the "Lend Your Legs" scheme for the Texas School for the Blind.

Austria Celebrates One Year To Go until the Paralympic Games

Cycling an exercise in trust for blind Sonoma County riders | PressDemocrat.com – the need to place trust in your pilot as a blind cyclist. Revolution fund-raising ride coming up on Sept 24th may attract a small number of blind cyclists. Also visit
No limits for Blind Power bicycle team – Bicycling Sonoma – The Press Democrat – Santa Rosa, CA – Archive

Require Motivation? – Ride a Tandem Bicycle | motivation | require motivation | tandem bicycle | grand union canal – Articles 20VN – the pleasures, more or less, of a couple going for a weekend tandem ride.

Blind Bike Trials Video 1 | BMX Online Web Community – Matt Gilman is blind because of diabetes. Here he directs you to his web site and YouTube videos.

Ken ready to raise funds in tandem with Pedal event – Scotsman.com – Ken Reid , who is registered blind himself, will undertake a ride this Sunday to raise funds for blind and partially sighted people as part of the Pedal for Scotland event.

[Video] Kiwi Paralympic Cyclists Preparing for London

Hy-Vee Triathlon: It takes two, but he’s No. 1 | The Des Moines Register – Aaron Scheidies, who is sight-impaired, uses guide to win championships.

Riding in tandem – Israeli blind and sighted bike riders teach each other a few things | Israel21C

WINNIEL & THE LAUGHING HOUSE : Inspirations from Helen Keller – evidently tandem cycling is one of the many things she did.

The Blind Buzz on Cycling

Cycling an exercise in trust for blind Sonoma County riders | PressDemocrat.com – the need to place trust in your pilot as a blind cyclist. Revolution fund-raising ride coming up on Sept 24th may attract a small number of blind cyclists. Also visit
No limits for Blind Power bicycle team – Bicycling Sonoma – The Press Democrat – Santa Rosa, CA – Archive

Require Motivation? – Ride a Tandem Bicycle | motivation | require motivation | tandem bicycle | grand union canal – Articles 20VN – the pleasures, more or less, of a couple going for a weekend tandem ride.

Blind Bike Trials Video 1 | BMX Online Web Community – Matt Gilman is blind because of diabetes. Here he directs you to his web site and YouTube videos.

[Video] Kiwi Paralympic Cyclists Preparing for London

Hy-Vee Triathlon: It takes two, but he’s No. 1 | The Des Moines Register – Aaron Scheidies, who is sight-impaired, uses guide to win championships.

Riding in tandem – Israeli blind and sighted bike riders teach each other a few things | Israel21C

WINNIEL & THE LAUGHING HOUSE : Inspirations from Helen Keller – evidently tandem cycling is one of the many things she did.

The Blind Buzz on Cycling

You’ll be relieved to know that this entry has a sensible, small number of links in it!

---

London 2012 Paralympics will leave us with more lasting memories than Olympics – Telegraph Blogs

London 2012 Paralympics: one year to go guide – Telegraph

Used Tandem Market Offers Up Some Nice Hardware.. « The TandemGeek’s Blog – tandems for sale in USA. Details here about how to follow up these offers.

Working in Tandem: Elmhurst Cyclist’s Ride Might Surprise Some People – Elmhurst, IL Patch -
Ed Hill is blind, and completed the Chicago to Milwaukee Road Tour, with assistance from his brother, Bruce. 
More on this event

Danger zone | Go To The News – some disabled people want to push the limits – and some can’t be bothered. You may also like to read
Why do so many disabled people embark on dangerous feats? | Benefits of fish oil

[Video] Trailblazers, Toronto enable blind people to get into tandem riding. A little of what’s involved in taking part.

The Blind Buzz on Cycling N to Z

Entries for links beginning A to M appeared in the previous post.

---

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W

X

Y

Z

N

Nathan Hale Foundation not peddling tandem, yet – Plymouth, MA – Wicked Local Plymouth – veterans’ outreach centers plan to acquire tandems.

[Video] New patented system allows people with disabilities to ride bicycles – Huelva (Spain), 11 Aug (EFE), (Camera: Julian Perez).- Inventor Faustino Blanco, who himself is visually impaired, has presented a patented system to connect two bicycles in tandem, which allows people with disabilities to ride them. The system could also benefit the elderly and people undergoing rehabilitation. Also visit
www.efe.com (site in several languages including English)

No Vision, No Problem for Ironman Competitor – That’s Fit – Jack Chen, now 36, has been blind since age 16. He wanted to take part in Ironman to show that visually impaired people can do whatever they want to do.

Nottinghamshire Royal Society for the Blind are looking for volunteer tandem-pilots – 20/8/11 – 10.30am or 1pm, Forest Rec, Nottm.

NYC Triathlon Report | Blind Athlete – first hand account of taking part.

O

P

| Palaestra: Cycling camps held for paralympic hopefuls and riders with disabilities | Find Articles at BNET – USABA hosted its first development camp for athletes with disabilities.

Paralympic Cycling – Track – cycling seems likely to be one of the most popular sports at London 2012.

Pedaling around North County – Santa Ynez Valley Journal – Tailwinds Bicycle Club, Santa Maria, Northern Santa Barbara County, donates bicycles for children in need, and has provided a tandem for blind riders as part of its community activities.

Profile of blind cyclist in Gran Fondo to premiere at MorristownGreen.com Film Fest – a short film chronicles Jim Kutsch’s preparations for the Big Ride.

Q

R

Racing Blind – Shoreline-Lake Forest Park, WA Patch – Patricia Walsh talks about what it’s like to be a blind triathlete.

RAGBRAI is for everyone | Blind Living – so who in their right mind would want to go through this? Read on.

S

Scheidies fearless despite blindness – The Denver Post, – people say funny things when they see Aaron Scheidies taking part as a blind triathlete.

Shona changes gear to raise charity cash – Edinburgh Evening News – Shona Black is planning to raise funds by a gruelling program of kayaking, climbing and cycling, despite blindness.

Stuart Block Supports Right to Sight | Right To Sight – Stuart Block is riding a tandem from Cape Town to London to raise funds and awareness for Right to Sight.

T

Tandem piloting for blind stoker – - Cycling Forums UK – discussion thread on new pilot piloting for new blind stoker.

Team Trainright Blog: An Enlightening Triathlon Experience, by Randy Mast | Carmichael Training Systems – the author meets up with a blind partner for the Denver Triathlon.

Trailblazers Tandem Cycling Club – Serving VI Cyclists in Toronto, Canada « The TandemGeek’s Blog- blind members meet up with sighted volunteers to ride tandems. 

The Tandem Geek’s Blog RSS Feed

U

Urban Active to Hold Cycling Class to Benefit the Visually Impaired -Columbus Local News – Urban Active Fitness has recently sponsored an indoor cycling event for blind people.

V

Volunteer cyclists needed for new tandem group – Community – Ulster Star – Lisburn in Focus needs you if you could be a tandem pilot.

W

X

Y

Z

The Blind Buzz on Cycling A To M

Entries for letters N to Z will appear in the next couple of days.

---

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

[Video] 2B2R Intro – Tauru and Christi, both legally blind, plan to ride their tandem bike unsupported from the bottom of South America to the top of North America in 2012-13. Their goal is to raise awareness about the abilities of the visually impaired, and they will be visiting schools for the blind along their route to share their story and to learn of new stories from others. .

60 PLUSS MPH – My Greenspeed GTT recumbent tandem trike – the author, Graham, has lost 80% of his sight already, and prepares for the time he can no longer ride solo.
RSS Feed

A

Annapolitan Clark Rachfal Awarded Paralympic World Cup | Eye On Annapolis

B

Blind bike trials 2 – More highly skilled bike stunts from Matt Gilman; blind bike rider.

Blind Biker Brings It BACK Home To San Diego – Jeremy Poincenot was a student when Leber’s Hereditary Optic Neuropathy (LHON) made him blind. He takes part in an annual tandem ride (the CURE Ride) to raise awareness of the condition. 

More on the CURE Ride.

Blind Riders Take On RAGBRAI -It’s called the oldest and largest bike touring event in the world, and takes place in Iowa. 2 blind people took part this year. Also visit
Tour de Iowa? Bicyclists Hit Hawkeye State for RAGBRAI, Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa – ABC Newsand
Munson: Disabled riders push ahead, with a bit of volunteer aid | The Ds Moines Register – the inaugural Adaptive Sports Iowa RAGBRAI team..

Blind teenager’s on track for Olympic challenge – This is Scunthorpe – Jack Garner and his guide will take part in a paratriathlon event in London.

C

CHECT UK (ChectUK) on Twitter – Childhood eye Cancer charity wants to hear from any keen cyclists willing to pilot a blind cyclist from Brighton to Weymouth. Sorry if this is too late.

College Supports Blind Dave In Top2Toe Challenge – South Birmingham College is supporting local blind man Dave Heeley in his Top2Toe Challenge, which sees him run and cycle from one end of the country to the other in ten days to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support. Also visit
Good luck Blind Dave! – Sandwell Council

Cycling For Sight 2011 – Roesink Photograhy — Chris Roesink –
RSS Feed – these photos have earned Chris a thank-you from the Blind Stokers’ Club.

D

Door County Triathlon: Overcoming extra challenges | Door County Wisconsin | doorcountyadvocate.com – helpers enable people with disabilities to take part.

Don’t miss Sci-Bono’s Dialogue in the Dark | nothing to do in joburg besides… – one of the guides for this exhibition, which is conducted completely in the dark, is a keen tandem cyclist.

E

East TN cyclists share tandem bikes with the blind | wbir.com – VIBES runs a monthly tandem bike ride in Sequoyah Hills.

Enough is Never Enough | J-Wire – Did round the world cyclist Jinji Sadan get a sleep-in on his first Sunday morning after a 65,000 km trip? No, he had a 6:30 start for something else…. Also visit
He’s cycled the world | The Jewish Chronicle

F

Family Service of Morris County recognizes outstanding volunteers | NJ.com – Friends of the Blind Program helps blind people do everything from getting the groceries to riding a tandem.

Find Your CORE: Incredible Use for Bungee Cords – those cords hold blind triathletes and sighted guides together.

First Legally Blind Cyclist To Take On Pan-Mass Challenge « CBS Boston – Chris Smith wants to raise money for the cancer charity benefiting from the event, and to make a statement about blind people not retiring to the couch

Fitness – My Life as a Low Vision/Blind Soldier – the author goes into the barriers to fitness imposed by facilities and by himself.

G

great things about being blind!: Bicycling

Greg Birch: Helping out is a tandem affair – Pomerado News – he has taken part in Cycling for Sight with blind 80-year-old stoker Jim Miller.

Guide Dogs appeal for challenge help – Community – Forfar Dispatch – Guide Dogs Scotland have formed the Full Circle 2011 Team to take on the Guide Dogs Coniston Challenge on Saturday, September 10. At least one participant duige dog owner is taking part on a tandem.

H

Hey Wilson Meet Joules and His Electric Tandem Bike – a wife who doesn’t much appreciate riding a tandem bike with her husband welcomes Joules, a robot that can take the place of a human on a tandem.

I

J

K

L

Legally blind mountain bike racer risks his life to compete | Matador Network – Bobby McMullen can barely see but he trains and competes on some of the most challenging downhill mountain bike courses in America.

London to Brighton Cycle – tandem ride from London to Brighton, 11th September 2011. Blind people from tandem clubs across London are hoping to take part, but they need more front riders / captains / pilots. Could you volunteer?

Long Branch Duathlon Race Report | Blind Athlete – New Jersey event involving running and cycling included a blind athlete on a tandem.

M

Meet the best in the West – Evening Times – Visibility Volunteers in Glasgow enable blind people to take part in activities, tandem cycling included. The group has been shortlisted for a Community Champions Award.

[Video] Matt King, blind cyclist – Paralympic tandem cyclist racing and motivational speaking introduction.

Mellis on wheels – Community – lep.co.uk – Jack Mellis from Preston, Lancs, is 92 and describes himself as ‘short-sighted’. He is one of the UK’s oldest cyclists.

Mike Nightingale’s driving force is people | Stuff.co.nz – Mike, 72, of New Plymouth, has piloted tandems for blind people, and has been involved in much more besides.

The Blind Buzz on Cycling

Bicycling. – Great things about being blind – the author describes getting into cycling as a child.

[Video] Blind Cyclist Metro News Story – Jayne Parsons, champion paralympian cyclist.

Blind rider wants to ride Brighton-Weymouth, 2-3 Oct. Anyone with tandem & 2 days spare for a great cause?

Cyclists prepare for first Gran Fondo in Morristown | Daily Record – Jim Kutsch is the president and CEO at The Seeing Eye. He and his wife, both of whom are blind, are participating in the Gran Fondo, part of the proceeds of which will be donated to the organization that trains guide dogs.

Fundraiser Michael’s inspiring charity ride » North Shropshire Chronicle – Michael McCarthy has been blind since the age of 8. He has completed a London to Paris tandem ride in 24 hours.

Group for Visually Impaired Youth Raises $3.5M, Looks Ahead – Clayton-Richmond Heights, MO Patch – Delta Gamma supports visually impaired and blind children and youth from birth to high school age. a tandem bike team is one of many facilities for older clients.

Kind of Random Musings – Living With War-Related Illness and Injury – Sean faces up to the dilemmas of being newly disabled while doing all kinds of positive things.

The sports we choose. – great things about being blind – Kim Kilpatrick sings the praises of multi-sensory experiences, such as swimming, canoeing and tandem cycling. 

Great Things About Being Blind RSS Feed.

World’s best blind triathletes coming to Peterborough – Peterborough Examiner – Ontario, CA – Ironman event coming up. You may also like to read
Blindness doesn’t slow down these triathletes – Peterborough Examiner – Ontario, CA.

cycling disability blindness

The Blind Buzz on Cycling

Blind Microsoft Employee Crushes Ironman Records – Patricia Walsh has broken not only the women’s, but the men’s, Ironman records as well.

finished the great blind ride | Jinji Sadan – the challenges and rewards of riding with a blind woman.

Fogbees ride with the Blind Bikers Across America – FOGBEES – 3 captains paired with blind stokers take on a 2-day ride in alabama.

Forthcoming Events from British Cycling – The Blind Buzz

Group gives visually impaired the ability to enjoy outdoor activities – JSOnline – Blind Outdoor Leisure Development (BOLD) provides outdoor activities while enabling visually impaired people to develop their social and athletic skills.

Guide Dogs for the Blind Brings Out the Dogs to Tour de Cure | Find Folding Bikes – cycling event where Guide Dogs (America) aim to raise funds for diabetes and blindness.

Joiner#’s double bike challenge – Community – Pocklington Post – Chris Barnes wil take part in the Great North Run and the Great South Run, also cycling to and from both events. He is raising funds for the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association and Help for Heroes.

Outdoors for All offers opportunities for disabled adventurers : The Issaquah Press – see also
Outdoors for All Foundation: – based Seattle. Offers a wide range of outdoor activities, cycling included, for children and adults with disabilities. They are also looking for volunteers.

The Blind Buzz on Cycling

You may be relieved to know that this is a much more moderate entry this time!

---

Cycle for Sight charity ride raises over $233,000 | | CitizenCycle – Toronto and Ottawa events raise money for Foundation Fighting Blindness.

Calling iPhone and iPad users – try the free Velo Vision app! – Velo Vision – VVApp lets you access the web site from your i-thingy.

Blind stoker needs captain for Sunday Parkways –
SundayParkways – next event apparently July 24th – Portland, Oregon.

[Video] Solar-powered quad bike best way to travel – Technology – Video – 3 News – blind New Zealand couple and the blind husband’s guide dog tour South Island by experimental solar-assisted quad-bike.

Blind Couple to Ride in Gran Fondo Cycling Event – Morristown, NJ Patch – Seeing Eye CEO and wife will share tandems with sighted riders.

25mi NESS Sponsored Tandem Ride – Elgin – 26 June 2011 – Patwa’s Paradiso On The Web – an account of this ride in aid of NE Sensory Services, formerly Grampian Society for the Blind.

"But She’ll Look Sweet, Upon the Seat of a bicycle Built for Two." – At A Glacial Pace – to train for a triathlon, all you need is some pretty basic equipment…. unless you’re disabled. 

At A Glacial Pace RSS Feed

Good news from the Blind Stokers Club

It’s all good news from the Blind Stokers’ Club in California. Please read on. Thanks to David Shalinsky of BSC for this info.

---

Dear Blind Stokers Club (BSC), Cycling Friends, Past & Current Supporters,

The Cycling for Sight tour begins on July 15th. If you’re new on tour, you’re in for a real treat. If you enjoyed last year’s CycloRallye, get ready for more surprises. If you can’t be here, join us in spirit or by sponsoring a cyclist. Cyclists from as far as Toronto Canada and up to 92 years young will join us. Each day offers a new adventure. Many one-day options are available: CycloRallye (July 16th); Roll-out (July 15th); Roll-in (July 17th).

Good news to share:
- Allergan, a premier health care company in Irvine, became a major sponsor of Cycling for Sight. Allergan’s $10,000 donation will hit the books soon. Many thanks to Scott Smith for facilitating this key sponsorship.
- Top fundraisers Dan Orr, David Kuttnauer, Scott Leason and Nancy Havrick have raised over $8,700 – wow !
- The BSC Banner was proudly carried in the Solana Beach Festival parade on June 4th. Awesome BSC member volunteers raised $1200 at the Wine Pour. Special thanks to Andy Granda and David Kuttnauer for making lemons out of lemonade, and Andrew Burr for organizing support, at the Wine Pour
.
- Members of the BSC enjoyed Pedal to the Park on June 12th. Many thanks to Andy Granda for leading registration activities.

- BSC, get ready for two great training rides: June 18th and July 2nd, –> Roll out at 8 am from Fletcher Cove this Saturday.

In final preparations, we ask BSC Captains & Stokers, exemplary Ambassadors of our cycling club, to get the word out. Invite cycling friends to register for any one day – only $75 fee for a great time and cause. Please invite family and friends to the Finish Line Fair / ice cream social on July 17th. For more information or to register, go to
www.cyclingforsight.org .

We also ask for your fundraising help to support the San Diego Center for the Blind and Blind Stokers Club. We’re halfway to our goal, having raised $38,748 accounting for pledged donations. We need your help to get there all the way. Ask friends, family, neighbors, workers, etc to help. (For those who have already donated or raised their CFS participation goal, please accept our sincere gratitude)

To support a rider of your choice, use this link:
http://www.active.com/donate/cfsbsc . Use this link

http://www.active.com/donate/cfsbsc/csKGibben and your donation will be directed by Kim Gibbens, Director of the San Diego Center for the Blind, to a rider in need. Thank you for your support!

Looking forward to a great tour together with the BSC!

David and Daniel

David Shalinsky and Daniel Powell

The Blind Buzz on Cycling

For more links to blind tandem cycling, please see my page,
Vince’s Parallax: Tandem Cycling and Blind People

Apologies for leaving it so long without putting one of these together – that’s why this entry is so enormous. Some entries are a bit out-of-date by now, but I thought it worthwhile to include them nonetheless.

A

B

C

D

E

F

G

H

I

J

K

L

M

N

O

P

Q

R

S

T

U

V

W

X

Y

Z

3 Ways To Compete In Tandem Cycling For The Blind | LIVESTRONG.COM

A

A bicycle built for two | Sheila Hanlon – some UK tandem history, including a photo of a blind piano tuner with, in front (shock! horror!) a woman in the front seat.

[Video] Adaptive Sports Iowa Promo

Adopt a blind cyclist – scheme to get support from Australian companies to find blind employees and raise funds to enable them to cycle.

Aileen McGlynn: A naturally blonde winner – Scotsman.com Living – Aileen McGlynn has albinism and is registered blind, but would rather talk about her success on the cycle track.

Amazing Bikes: Recumbents – Velo Vision – All about recumbent bikes, from What is that? to Which one do I want?

An answer for blind cyclists | “Long/ Live/ the…” an interweblog by Marc Hummel {Philadelphia, PA} – a note about
Bicycling Blind, which connects sighted captains with blind stokers. USA based.

An Dubhlan (The Great Challenge) – Tahir was blind and overweight. but he ended up tackling a mountainous tandem ride from Trondheim to Oslo, Norway. In Scottish Gaelic and English (video no longer available).

Apparently, it’s open season on disabled tandem riders downstate – General Carlessness – some ugly aspects of driver/cyclist antagonism, misbehaving cyclists and terrible drivers causing serious accidents.

Arizona blind stoker seeking pilot

B

Baildon Club is the wheel deal for a fun time (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus) – Bradford Wheels For All is a cycling club for children with disabilities.

Bent- Up Cycles – Los Angeles recumbent bike and trike service and sale 
See also the related blog
Bent Up Cycles 

Bent Up Cycles RSS Feed

Bicycling Blind on Facebook – The U.S. Blind Tandem Cycling Connection is a resource to connect blind and visually impaired cyclists with tandem pilots across the USA so they can arrange rides for training, events, or races. 

Bicycling Blind Web Site

Blind amateur triathlete seeks training partners in Hornchurch – Romford Recorder – Essex, UK.

Blind Ambition – Pacing Petaluma – Petaluma 360 – Petaluma, CA – Rocky is visually impaired through retinitis pigmentosa, and aged 57, but takes part in triathlons.

Blind athlete rides Cape Epic – Hein Wagner completed Stage 2 in this year’s Absa Cape EpicIt is the first time in its history that a blind rider participated in this extreme endurance event. You may also like to read
BLIND ABSA CAPE EPIC PARTICIPANT TO TEST HIS ENDURANCE AT CAPE ARGUS PICK ‘N PAY CYCLE TOUR THIS WEEKEND – Riverlodge Backpackers

Blind bicyclists bring muscle for tandem bike ride – Elmhurst, IL – Elmhurst Press – Elmhurst, IL – Ron Burzese waxes lyrical about the enjoyment of riding tandem.

Blind Bike Race and Trike Raffle set for Feb. 23, 2011 for Lighthouse, Breward, FL – a disabled couple, who run The Trike Shop, Ft. Lauderdale, help to launch the local Lighthouse Tandem Riding Program.

Blind Courage brothers look back at their epic fundraising challenge – two brothers, both legally blind, trekked through 5 Australian states on tandem bikes to raise funds.

Blind cyclist Penny Leclair shares her love for meeting people through cycling. – TUBULOCITY

Blind cyclist seeks front rider for tandem triathlon training – Chris Blackabee lives in the London Borough of Havering, and is seeking a training partner.

[Video] Blind Cyclist Keeps Competitive Edge – Karissa Whitsell is a world-class athlete who rides a tandem bike all around the world.

Blind cyclist’s tandem challenge | Newark Advertiser – Keith Lauder, 47, of Collingham, Notts., UK, has completed many challenges, recently planned a tandem ride from Newcastle to Edinburgh to raise funds for organisations that have helped him.

Blind group launches new fitness sessions (From Warrington Guardian) – sociable tandem sessions are being offered by Warrington and Widnes Society for the Blind in Latchford on Fridays.

Blind Guy Biking Videos on YouTube – Richard Holloway’s extensive bike ventures.

Blind guy in the UK – this was actually myself trying to get some local contacts.

Blind Huddersfield Town fan Christopher Scrivener takes on 260 mile tandem trip to Brighton – Huddersfield Examiner to benefit the football club’s charity, "Keep It Up" For the end of this story, please read
A bit of blind faith rounded off epic Brighton bike ride | Huddersfield Daily Examiner

Blind Independence Greenwich (BIG), for all blind and partially sighted people in the London Borough of Greenwich and adjoining areas, plans to start a tandem project this summer (2011).

Blind Ride held in Mexico – People’s Daily Online

Blind rider seeks a guide | Stuff.co.nz – Rob Matthews, who has world records for running, now turns his talents to cycling.

Blind riders take to the roads on bicycles built for two Community – Ulster Star – Lisburn, Northern Ireland, played host to a tandem riding event, "It Takes Two to Tandem".

Blind Seeing Blind | The Blind Viewpoint – Erik Weihenmayer – Matt Gilman has lost most of his vision through diabetes, but competes as a solo cyclist. Visit his
Blind Bike Trials Rider site.

Blind Stoker Ride 5/21/2011 « Chicago Area Tandem Society Blog

Blind Tandem – Photo: Mario Roma and blind partner Adauto Belli during the Prologue of the 2011 Absa Cape Epic Mountain Bike stage race held at the Chrysalis Academy in Tokai Forest outside Cape Town, South Africa on the 27 March 2011

Blind, visually impaired enjoy bicycle outing – The Daily News – Greenville, Belding & Montcalm County, MI – 20 visually impaired people enjoyed tandem event.

Blind_cycling Yahoo! Group – particularly for visually impaired people interested in tandem riding.

blind_mountain_biking_intro – "my first attempt at riding a bicycle of any sort (other than a tandem) in 22 years. this was just an intro and a short first ride for me to get used to the bike. please note, I said I was totally blind. I meant it. if you have problems believing a blind mountain biker can exist, check out matt gilman and his blind bike trials videos."

Boulder-based nonprofit pairs up blind, sighted cyclists on tandem bikes – Boulder Daily Camera – A University of Colorado student is launching a new nonprofit organization called Bike Insight, which pairs blind people with sighted partners for tandem bike riding.

Brands Hatch to host Paralympic road cycling at London 2012 – Kent News

Bronze for blind cyclist Parsons – Big News Network – New Zealand blind cyclist Jayne Parsons has won a bronze medal at the Para-Cycling Track World Championships in Montichiari, Italy. Also read
Gold medal just reward for overcoming the odds | Stuff.co.nz – Jayne Parsons with her pilot, Sonia Waddell, won gold at the same event.

C

Cairo to Capetown 2011. The ultimate cycle journey on earth – written by a supporter of eXsight Tandems, hoping to result in 10 tandems, allowing for visually impaired people of the Illawarra, New South Wales, Australia, to get out cycling.

Charity bringing more into sport – This is Grimsby – Foresight, originally set up for visually impaired people, now encourages people with many disabilities to get into sports, including cycling.

Club VIBES (Knoxville) – club for visually impaired youth, aged 14+, with strong cycling component.

Couple tackles life in tandem | Democrat and Chronicle – Kasey Hopper was diagnosed at 19 with retinitis pigmentosa. At 29, he entered the Tour de Cure charity bike ride for the American Diabetes Association at Mendon Ponds Park, supported by his wife, Erin.

Coventry Visually Impaired and Sighted Tandem Association (VISTA)

Cream Puff Cycles – Clark Rachfal (known as Cream Puff) is a legally blind paracyclist. He details his training and exploits in this blog. 

Cream Puff Cycles RSS Feed

Cycling eighth sports branch for blind in Turkey – Today’s Zaman, Istanbul – scheme funded by Turkey working with the European Union.

D

Deafblind couple aiming to raise £20k for charity – Local Headlines – Donside Piper and Herald – Bob and Louise Nolan have undertaken a tandem ride of 1,000 miles over Scottish islands to raise funds for Deaf-Blind Scotland. Planned to finish on June 16th, 2011. 
You may also like to read 

After 1000 miles, it’s a dream ending for cycle duo [Evening Times (Glasgow, Scotland)]

Disabled athletes begin 3-day ‘Cycle to the Sea’ journey | WCNC.com Charlotte – A cycling event, the annual Cycle To The Sea, to raise money for programs for athletes with disabilities took place in April 2011.

Disabled IDF veterans bike south – Jerusalem Post – disabled Israeli veterans, including blind ones, participating in this large event.

E

Echolocation Makes Mountain Biking, Skiing Possible For The Blind – Here And Now « Mountain Bikes 
You may also like to read
A Californian Blind Man Uses Echolocation To Ride A Bike | Inhabitat – Green Design Will Save the World

Expanding Horizons For Blinded Veterans – AMERICA’S HEROES & HEROINES – how veteran Jeff Henson triumphed at sports activities, including tandem riding, at age 50.

Exsight Tandems – group of sighted captains and blind stokers in New South Wales, Australia.

F

Friday Favs (part 2) – Out of Sight – Brittany is a visually impaired newly-wed, one of whose fave physical activities is tandem cycling.
Out Of Sight RSS Feed

Friends to complete tandem bike ride for Help the Heroes – Top Stories – News – Birmingham Mail – Dave Downe, who is registered blind, and James Ross aimed to complete a 50-mile tandem ride in April 2011 to raise funds for Help the Heroes.

From Land’s End to Bristol … on a bicycle made for two. – This is Bristol – in aid of Lifecycle, a local cycling charity that offers tandem cycling to adults and children with a visual impairment.

G

Get on Your Bike For Reading National Bike Week Events – not part of bike week, but also mentioned is the cycling 4 sight event on Sunday, July 17th, organised by Berkshire County Blind Society at The Look Out Discovery Centre, Nine Mile Ride, Bracknell. Call (0118) 987 2803 to sign up to the 10k or 20k course and raise money for charity.

GTT tandem trike described here as the "limosine of trikes".

Guileful Glaucoma – THE ABC OF VISUAL IMPAIRMENT & CVI – for Parents and Professionals – two friends in South Africa who cycle together are both visually impaired.

H

How can I cycle if I’m blind or have low vision? | VisionAWARE

I

I’m A Triathlete! – All Abilities Welcome – Shelley Ann Morris writes about how she got started.

Inspiring video short from Lend Your Legs rides | Austin On Two Wheels – Social Cycling Austin offers tandem rides for blind children in the summer. Also visit
Lend Your Legs Facebook Page

It’s here! It’s here! You are so right, Ms. Guinevere – The Last Leaf Gardener – the author looks forward to cycling events in May in New York City, with a blind element.

J

K

KKL-JNF makes nature accessible – JPost – Green Israel – Fun for everyone at the Forester’s House Path in Bet Keshet Forest. The event included cycling for disabled people (hand-cycles and tandems).

L

Leading the Blind – live-cycle – the author contemplates a first-time tandem trip from Edinburgh to Manchester with an uncle who is going blind. 

Live-cycle Blog RSS Feed

Lands End to John O’Groats by Tandem – blog by Linda, hoping to raise sponsorship for
Talking Tandems 


ATOM Feed

Leeds man’s blind bike ride – Latest News – Yorkshire Evening Post – Martin Sigsworthgets back on a bike, a tandem this time, after years without one due to his blindness, caused by glaucoma. He was planning a fund-raising ride at the end of May, 2011.

Letter: Belleville resident raises money for MS Society – NorthJersey.com – legally blind cyclist raising money for multiple sclerosis.

Lighthouse of Broward starts cycling program – Sun Sentinel – funds raised by the Trike Shop in Ft. Lauderdale buy 4 tandems to get the scheme started.

M

Mission Cycles, UK – "We specialise in Folding bikes for commuting, boating, caravanning etc. – Special Needs Trikes – Scooters – Trials Bikes – Child carriers and tag alongs – Cruisers – Tandems – Cargo trailers – Unicycles – Trikes for able bodied and special needs."

My Greenspeed GTT recumbent tandem trike – the author, Graham, is registered blind, and is making the transition from solo cycling to the tandem trike.

N

Negev Cross Trip – cycling by blind – Facebook – Negev Cross Trip, a cycling trip for blind people – was conducted from Dimona to Ein Bokek. In Ein Bokek – they were joined by Ein Gedi Preparatory students, the Preparatory school manager – Moti, and Head of Education at Tamar regional council.

O

‘oVo’ tandem unveiled – Velo Vision – designer Richard Cresswell aims to make small numbers of these from his base in Warwickshire, UK. Illustrations and video included on the page.

P

Para-cycling team for World Cup | infonews.co.nz New Zealand’s local news community – the team on May 4th included blind cyclist Jayne Parsons.

Paralympic Cycling Road some background to paracycling, and the prospects for London 2012.

Paralympics gives visually impaired kids chance to compete – HeraldNet.com – Local news – SNOHOMISH –Students who are blind or visually impaired will have a chance this week to learn what it feels like to be in an Olympic event. Story dates from early May.

Q

R

Recession bites into charities’ income (From Warrington Guardian) – Cycling Projects, which organises cycling for disabled people, is among many local charities that have a funding deficit this year.

Ride 2 Recovery – Making a Difference in the Lives of Wounded Warriors. You may also like
Ride 2 Recovery Golden State Challenge Oct 2-8, 2011, from San Francisco to the Santa Monica Pier.

Riding Blind : Dead Hippy Axle Dressing vs Situational Awareness « Blind Cyclists’ Union – a plea (or rant!) for some common-sense on the roads from all concerned.

S

San Diego’s 7th Annual Cycling for Sight, July 15-17 « The TandemGeek’s Blog

Seeking tandem road bike 4 triathalon for blind Ontario cyclist ramavery & hubby Need to borrow Potential #cycling mag story Pls RT – message on Twitter dated June 11th 20100.

Social Cycling ATX volunteers bike with blind students | Fit City – scheme for blind stokers to team up with sighted pilots in Austin, Texas.

Solanapalooza Community Fundraiser Set for June 27 | Competitor.com – Daniel Powell to raise money for the Challenged Athlete’s Foundation’s Operation Rebound, and Cycling for Sight, a charity bike ride benefitting the San Diego Center for the Blind and the Blind Stokers Club.

Sunchasers Trailer – legally blind champion cyclist Karissa Whitsell is one of the disabled women cyclists portrayed in this film.

T

“Taking Life for Granted” – Dan’s Devotionals – Dan Zimmerman, based in Longmont, Co, USA, urges you not to take life’s pleasures for granted as he contemplates a tandem ride for a blind cycling group.

Talking Tandems – Tandem Cycling for the Blind in Fife – serving western central Fife, scotland. Always looking for new members and volunteers.

Tandem bikes help blind ride – Tukandu Cycling Club, Loveland, Ohio, has a dozen tandems, and now needs more sighted captains to ride with blind members.

Tandem couple celebrate diamond wedding anniversary – Community – The Star – Cyril and Joan Dack celebrated at Sheffield Royal Society for the Blind’s centre. Both have enjoyed trips on tandems in the past.

The Bicycle Book: Wit, Wisdom and Wanderings -Kindle eBook – 25 contributors make up what sounds like an entertaining miscellany about bikes. Part of the proceeds will go to disabled veterans and blind athletes.

The Most Ultra Ordinary activity that I have never done before! – eHome of Edwin Lai . . – a cycle ride from Toronto to Niagara Falls (200 km) to raise funds for cancer attracted a wide variety of cyclists, including some blind tandem riders.

Tri-City Special Olympian too fast for old bike – Teresa Payne has cycled solo, but failing sight has made this too dangerous. She now has a tandem, and local people may even end up generously paying for it.

[Video] Two Blind to Ride The Americas 2012-13 – Tauru and Christi, both legally blind, plan to ride their tandem bike unsupported from the bottom of South America to the top of North America in 2012-13. Their goal is to raise awareness about the abilities of the visually impaired, and they will be visiting schools for the blind along their route.

U

V

Veterans Compete For Gold At Warrior Games | Wacky News – vets with a wide range of disabilities compete in a wide range of events.

Video montage – Velo Vision – A selection of videos featuring Velo Visionaries, recumbents galore, the ultimate cycle camping solution, auto vs velo and downhill madness.

Vision impaired veterans deal with challenge | The Augusta Chronicle – VA’s Blind Rehabilitation Center enables newly blind veterans to deal with life again. Activities include cycling by tandem.

W

Wagga couple enjoy tricycle custom-built for two – The Daily Advertiser – Colin and Ruth Rush are in their 70s, but find a tandem trike a great way to exercise together.

What Does Cycling Mean To You? Your thoughts needed! – you’re not being asked for money. What the author wants is ideas for framing an appeal for a tandem for an 11-year-old boy who has had retino-blastoma.

where amazing happens | Jinji Sadan – Roei Jinji Sadan with his bike Emona cycling around the world – Jinji describes the experience of piloting a tandem with a blind woman as stoker.

Whether a Stoker or a Captain, It’s All In Day’s Fun – Elmhurst, IL Patch – a report from the first tandem outing of the year, where all the stokers were blind.

Wildomar gold medalist to compete in race :: The Valley News – the Marine Corps Trials were a preliminary to the Wounded Warrior competition in February.

Worksman Cycles Tandem – berstineijet – a recumbent tricycle built for two.

World T.E.A.M. Sports Athletes to Compete in Capital of Texas Triathlon | PRLog – this event, held in Austin, involved disabled veterans, and other disabled athletes, such as Tina Ament, who has been blind from birth.

Worth a Thousand Words: Disabled Marine Cranks His Way to Recovery – Ride to Recovery has helped Chuck Sketch to get on to a recumbent tandem bike, despite his being blind and a double amputee.

Wounded veterans cycling across Texas, stop off in San Marcos – the Ride to Recovery program held a 350-mile trek for wounded veterans in March, 2011.

X

Y

Z